Some thoughts after one playthrough and the ng+ cleanup for the platinum; a really nice metroid-vania game. Each area felt distinct. However as the game went on, the challenge significantly dropped. I opted for a strength first build, as I usually do with this games. Upgrading to the max Kureimoa and a heavy armor I was able to steam through the later half of the game. I'll test it some other time with another build. The bosses had nice movesets and never felt cheap. The mobs felt a little underwhelming.
Overall a game that I would recommend and one that I will replay for sure.